Trip #430 Narcissus Avenue to Hammond Street, Sheraden, Pittsburgh took place on April 12, 2020, and was published on April 24, 2020.
This uphill climb is hard. The street is steep, the stairs uneven. But after each house, I turn around and look back. The higher I climb, the more I see. Pastel-colored houses crowd the valley below, their slanted roofs in brown and grey—the same colors as the McKees Rocks Bridge and the Ohio River. I enjoy the gentle breeze, the green grass, and the sunny daffodils. As I reach the top, I see a woman walking back and forth along her porch. She’s holding a phone and calmly saying, “Hello? Can you hear me?” over and over. The greeting makes me smile even though I know it’s not intended for me. I can hear her trying to establish that connection all the way back down the stairs – probably better than the person on the other end of the line.
Field Notes: A long flight up a very steep hill. Lovely view from the very top – nothing “spectacular” but very pretty in a birds-eye-view of the neighborhood way.
Want to visit these stairs? You can locate them on the Pittsburgh City Steps Plan website!
See the Risograph print of this photo and story in the Mis.Steps Shop.
Be a good neighbor! Have you visited these stairs and found them in poor condition or that illegal dumping (large items like tires, old furniture, and construction debris) and trash were abundant in the area? There are two things you can do to take action and make our city steps cleaner and safer for everyone! First, grab a photo if you can, and submit a report to Pittsburgh 311. All problems, both broken stairs, and railings, as well as trash and dumping, should be reported to the city. You can easily do this online or by calling.
